Shaker or sifter-type dispensers



July 12, 1966 w. E. FILLMORE ETAL 3,260,422

SHAKER OR SIFTER-TYPE DISPENSERS Filed July 27, 1964 INVENTORS WILLIAM LPILLMOREfi SPENCER LBLAY LOCK JR W4 00 E M FIG. 2

' AITTORN EVS United States Patent 3,260,422 SHAKER 0R SlFTER-TYPE DISPENSERS William E. Fillmore and Spencer L. Blaylock, Jan, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Owens-Illinois Glass (Jompany, a corporation of Ohio Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,388 Claims. (Cl. 222--485) This invention relates generally to a shaker or siftertype assembly and more particularly to a shaker or sifter-type dispenser which is readily attachable to and removable from containers and capable, not only of dispensing powder or pelletized products, but also functioning efiectively as a closure cap for the container.

An object of our invention is the provision of a novel dispensing assembly comprising a container, a Sifter-type fitment, and a closure therefor.

A further object of our invention is the provision of novel means insuring ready, accurate orientation of the assembled elements after being affixed to the container, to the end that it may function effectively both as a dispensing unit and as a container sealing means.

Another object of our invention is to provide a dispensing assembly which is simply and readily brought into and out of operating or dispensing position.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a container mouth, sifter-type fitment and closure which cooperates to provide a simple and effective dispensing assembly.

These and other objects of our invention will become apparent from the reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded prospective view of the shaker or Sifter-type dispensing assembly of our invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, in crosssection, illustrating the assembly of the elements of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a shaker or sifter-type dispense-r, partially in section embodying our invention and illustrated in the dispensing position; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, partially in section, of the dispenser of FIGURE 3 in closed position.

In the illustrated embodiment of our invention, reference numeral denotes a bottle or jar formed preferably from high density polyethylene, by conventional means well known to those skilled in the art. The bottle 10 is provided with a cylindrical wall 11 defining a neck, having a circular rim 12 extending about and defining a mouth 13. Exteriorly of this wall 11, and in close proximity to the rim 12, are a plurality of lugs 14 which are substantially in alignment with the axis of mouth 13. Lugs 14 are narrow, vertical and radial projections from the plane of wall 11. In FIGURE 1, only one lug 14 is visible, there being another lug 14 180 around the wall 11 from the lug shown. It should be understood that additional lugs 14 may be provided on the wall 11, as for example, four lugs could be equally spaced on the exterior of wall 11.

In close proximity to and below lugs 14, and preferably immediately adjacent thereto, is an abutment or annular radial projection 14 which is formed by increasing the outside diameter of Wall 11 in a localized annular zone and in such fashion as to provide upwardly of this abutment, an upwardly, inwardly tapering guiding surface 16 and beneath said abutment, a downwardly, inwardly, tapering securing surface 17; the function of this abutment will become more apparent hereinafter.

On the interior of wall 11 and immediately below the rim 12 are a plurality of equally spaced splines 19. The splines 19 are narrow, vertical and radial projections from the plane of the interior of the wall 11 and are in substantial alignment with the axis of the mouth 13.

Each projection 14 is positioned opposite a spline 19. The function and number of splines will become apparent hereinafter.

The sifter fitment or dispenser element 18 may be formed of rubber or other resilient, elastomeric, or plastic material, but preferably it is formed of polyethylene. It is molded in a single piece and comprises a relatively fiat disk 21! of a diameter substantially at least as great as the exterior diameter of the rim 12 and preferably of a diameter slightly greater than the exterior diameter of the rim 12, in order that when assembled, this disk may, to some extent, rest upon the rim 1 2. The disk 20 is provided with a multiplicity of perforations 21 extending therethrough, such perforations being of a diameter dictated by the particular grain size of the condiment or other material to be dispensed.

A depending, attaching annular skirt 22 of minor axial length is provided near the outer periphery of disk 20 and has an exterior diameter slightly less than the interior diameter of the wall 11 of the container 10 and is thus adapted to be telescoped within the mouth 13. If desired, a second skirt 23 may be provided at the outer periphery of disk 20 and of a slightly greater diameter than the exterior diameter of the wall '11 of the container 10 and thus be adapted to be telescoped over the rim 12 and wall 11.

A plurality of right angular shaped projections 24 are provided on the lower free edge of the skirt 22 and extend downwardly and axially from the flat disk 20. Each projection 24 is formed by a right angular wall 25 extending downwardly from the skirt 22 and extending parallel to the axis of the fitment 18 and forming a right angle with the lower free edge of the skirt 22. A second wall 26 merges with the lower free end of the wall 25 and extends upwardly to merge with the free edge of the skirt 22, thereby forming the right angular projection 24. The wall 26 may be straight or it may be curved slightly. The right angular walls 25 are of substantially the same length as the splines 19.

A vertical notch 27 is formed in the lower free end of the skirt 22 at the juncture of the wall 25 of the projeotion 24, and the wall 26 of the next projection 24 thus the number of notches are equal to the number of projections 24. The notches are constructed and arranged to receive therein the upper end 28 of the splines 19 thereby preventing rotation of the fitment 18 with respect to the mouth 13. There are at least as many notches 27 as there are splines 19. There may be more notches than splines but the reverse is not acceptable. The walls 26 of the projections 24 serve as guiding surfaces for the splines 19 when the fitment is applied to the container 10. If the fitment did not exactly align with each of the splines 19, then downward pressure on the fitment, applied during the customary and conventional capping operation will cause the fitment to rotate slightly thereby aligning the notches 27 with the upper end 28 of each of the splines (19 and thereby preventing further rotation of the fitment with respect to the mouth 13 of the container 10. The notches 27 are arranged on the skirt 22 in radial alignment with the perforations 21. There may be more or less perforations 21. In the event that the perforations outnumber the notches, there will be a perforation in radial alignment with a notch. If the notches outnumber the perforations, there will be a notch in radial alignment with each perforation. With .the notches in alignment with the perforations, the perforations 21 are therefore in radial alignment with the splines 19 when the fitment is applied to the container 10, and consequently in radial alignment with projections 14, thereby positively positioning the perforations 21,

The closure cap 311 may be formed of rubber or resilient elastomeric or plastic material but preferably it is formed a of polyethylene. It is molded in a single piece and comprises a relatively fiat circular top panel portion 31 of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the fiat disk 20 of the fitment 18 so that when assembled, the closure 30 will cover the fitment 13. The top panel portion 31 is provided wit-h a multiplicity of perforations 32 which are equal in number to and alignable with the perforations 21 in the fitment 18. The diameter of these perforations 32 is also dictated by the particular grain size of the condiment or other product to be dispensed.

An annular depending attaching skirt 33 is formed at the outer periphery of the circular top panel portion 31 and is adapted to be telescoped over the fitment '18 and the container mouth 13. The lower or free end 37 of the skirt 33 is provided with an annular internally projecting rib 34 having a downwardly and inwardly tapered surface 35. The rib 34 is adapted to be forced over abutment 15 when the closure cap 30- and fitment 18 are placed over the container mouth 13. This enables closure 30 to be held in snap fit relationship with the container and it is held thereby having the downward tapered surface 35 resting against the underside of abutment or the downwardly and inwardly tapered surface 17 of the container 10.

The interior of skirt 33 of cap 30 is provided with a plurality of internally projecting lugs 36. The lugs 36 are narrow projections which are susbtantially aligned with the axis of the closure 30. They are positioned on the skirt 33 in relation to the perforations 32 in such fashion that rotation of the closure 30 on the container 10 will move the lugs 36 around the exterior of the wall 11 of the container 10 until they come into contact with an outwardly projecting member 14. At this point, the positioning of perforations 2'1 and 32, projections 14 and lugs 36, splines 19 and notches 27 brings the perforations 2'1 and 32 into alignment and dispensing position.

The lugs 36 are so positioned in relation to perforations 32 that the alignment of the perforations 21 and 32 is possible only by rotation of the closure 30 in one direction; thus the rotation of the closure in the opposite direction moves the perforations 21 and 32 out of alignment and thereby closes the container. The lugs 36 also serve to retain the fitment 18 interiorly of the closure gap 30 in order that the dispenser may be preassembled and hoppered without the necessity of prepositioning the apertures as is required by some prior art fitments. The outer skirt 23 is of greater diameter than the inner diameter of the lugs 36. Also, the lugs 36 are positioned below the panel 31 a distance greater than the length of the skirt 23, thereby providing space between the lugs 36 and the panel 31 for the fitment skirt 23.

It can readily be seen from the foregoing that this dispensing assembly may be readily assembled by placing fitment 18 into closure 30 and rotating the same on the container rim 112 until the splines 19 register with the walls 26 of the projections 24 of the fitment whereby continued rotation and downward pressure will cause the fitment to rotate downwardly thereby positioning the upper end 28 of the splines 19 in the notches 27 of the fitment 18; continued downward pressure of the closure cap 30 will cause rib 34 to ride over projection 15 and look into place. After the splines 19 are engaged in the notches 27, the fitment cannot be rotated and is thus in a stationary position relative to the container 10 and the closure 30. It is also possible to assemble this package by first placing the fitment on the container and thereafter placing the closure 30 over the same.

After the fitment 18 is in place, the closure 30 is forced downwardly over the wall 11 of the container 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the perforations 21' and 32' are positioned on the vertical and the remaining perforations are positioned at 45 increments around a circle. Since the splines 19, notches 27, and holes 21 are aligned, they will also be positioned at the abovedescribed angles but around a somewhat larger circle.

The lugs 36 utilized to align the perforations 21 and 32 must therefore be positioned so that their centers are on the radii which are separated from the radii on which the center of any perforation 32 is located by an angle of about 15.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that this dispensing assembly can be easily manufactured and assembled to the container thereby providing a secure closed position against accidental opening, but easily opened to its dispensing position. Various modifications will be apparent from the foregoing and may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In combination a container having an annular neck forming wall defining a mouth, a plurality of radially projecting lugs on said wall, an annular radial projection on said wall below said lugs for securing a closure cap to said container, and a plurality of vertical splines on the interior of said wall; a sifter-type fitment comprising a relatively flat disk provided with a multiplicity of perforations therethrough, a depending attaching skirt near the periphery of said disk, and skirt having a plurality of right angular shaped projections on the free end thereof, one wall of each of said projections being parallel to the axis of said closure and forming a right angle with the free end of said skirt and a notch in said skirt at the juncture of each of said right angular walls and said skirt and adapted to receive said splines, thereby preventing rotation of said fitment; and a closure cap adapted to overlie said fitment and container mouth comprising a circular panel portion of greater diameter than said fitment, said panel portion being provided with a plurality of perforations alignable with the perforations in said fitment, a depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said panel portion, an annular internally projecting rib on the free end of said skirt cooperable with the projection on said container wall to secure said cap to said container, and means on the interior of said skirt cooperable with said radially projecting lugs on the wall of the container to limit rotative movement of said cap.

2. In combination, a container having an annular neck forming wall defining a mouth, said wall having an outer end providing an annular rim, a plurality of radially projecting lugs on said wall below said rim, an annular radial projection on said wall below said lugs, and a plurality of equally spaced vertical splines on the interior of said wall immediately below said rim; a sitter-type fitment of resilient material comprising a relatively flat disk of at least as great a diameter as said container rim and provided with a multiplicity of perforations therethrough, 21 depending attaching skirt near the periphery of said disk, said skirt having a plurality of right angular shaped projections on the free end thereof; one wall of each of said projections being parallel to the axis of said closure and forming a right angle with the free end of said skirt, a second wall of each of said projections extending from the lower free end of said first wall to said skirt to form with the free end of the skirt and said first wall, said right angular shaped projection, and a vertical notch in said skirt at the juncture of said second wall and the first wall of the next projection and adapted to receive such splines, thereby preventing rotation of said fitment; and a closure cap adapted to overlie said fitment and container mouth comprising a circular panel portion of greater diameter than said fitment, said panel portion being provided with a plurality of perforations alignable with the perforations in said fitment, a depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said panel portion, an annular internally projecting rib on the free end of said skirt cooperable with the projection on said container wall to secure said cap to said container, and means on the interior of said skirt cooperable with said radially projecting lugs on the wall of the container to limit rotative. movement of said cap.

3. A dispensing package comprising a container having an annular wall defining a mouth, an annular rim provided at the outer end of said wall, at least four radially projecting lugs on the exterior of said wall below said rim, an annular radial projection on said wall below said lugs, said projection being of greater diameter than said rim and a plurality of vertically disposed, equally spaced narrow splines extending radially on the interior of said wall; a sitter-type fitment of resilient plastic material comprising a relatively fit disk of a diameter at least as great as the diameter of said rim, and provided with a multiplicity of perforations therethrough, an annular depending attaching skirt near the periphery of said disk, a plurality of axially projecting right angular shaped projections on the free end of said skirt, said projections being formed with the free end of said skirt by one Wall being parallel to the axis of said closure and forming a right angle with the free end of said skirt, and a second wall extending from the free end of said first wall to the end of the said skirt and forming acute angles with said first wall and said skirt, and a vertical notch in said skirt at the juncture of said second wall and the first wall of the next projection, said notches being constructed and arranged to receive the upper end of said splines, thereby preventing rotation of said fitment with respect to said container; and a closure cap of resilient plastic material adapted to overlie said fitment and container mouth, comprising a relatively flat circular top panel portion of greater diameter than said fitment; said panel portion being provided with a plurality of perforations equal in number to and alignable with said perforations in said fitment, an annular depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said panel portion, an annular internally projecting rib near the free end of said skirt, cooperable with the projection on said container wall and adapted to secure said cap to said container, and a plurality of internally projecting lugs on the interior of said skirt, said lugs adapted to be positioned between adjacent lugs on said wall to limit rotative movement of said cap.

4. In combination, a container having an annular neck forming wall defining a mouth, a plurality of radially projecting lugs on said wall, an annular radial projection on said wall below said lugs for securing a closure cap to said container, and a plurality of vertical splines on the interior of said wall; a sitter-type fitment comprising a relatively flat disk provided with a multiplicity of perforations therethrough, a depending attaching skirt near the periphery of said disk and of a diameter less than the inner diameter of said mouth, said skirt having a plurality of right angular shaped projections on the free end thereof, one wall of each of said projections being parallel to the axis of said closure, said wall being substantially equal in length to the length of said splines and forming a right angle with the free end of said skirt, and a notch in said skirt at the juncture of each of said right angular walls and said skirt and adapted to receive said splines, thereby preventing rotation of said fitment; and a closure cap adapted to overlie said fitment and container mouth comprising a circular panel portion of greater diameter than said fitment, said panel portion being provided with a plurality of perforations alignable with the perforations in said fitment, a depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said panel portion, an annular internally projecting rib on the free end of said skirt cooperable with the projection on said container wall to secure said cap to said container, and means on the interior of said skirt cooperable with said radially projecting lugs on the wall of the container to limit rotative movement of said cap.

5. In combination, a container having an annular neck forming wall defining a month, said wall having an outer end providing an annular rim, a plurality of radially projecting lugs on said wall below said rim, an annular radial projection on said wall below said lugs, and a plurality of equally spaced vertical splines on the interior of said wall immediately below said rim; a Sifter-type fitment of resilient material comprising a relatively fiat disk of greater diameter than said container rim and provided with a multiplicity of perforations therethrough, a depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said disk and adapted to surround said wall in close proximity thereto, an inner depending attaching skirt near the periphery of said disk of an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of said mouth, said inner skirt having a plurality of right angular shaped projections on the free end thereof; one wall of each said projections are parallel to the axis of said closure and forming a right angle with the free end of said skirt, a second wall of each of said projections extending from the lower free end of said first wall to said skirt to form with the free end of the skirt and said first wall said right angular shaped projection, and a vertical notch in said inner skirt at the juncture of said second wall and the first wall of the next projection and adapted to receive such splines, thereby preventing rotation of said fitment; and a closure cap adapted to overlie said fitment and container mouth comprising a circular panel portion of greater diameter than said fitment, said panel portion being provided with a plurality of perforations alignable with the perforations in said fitment, a depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said panel portion, an annular internally projecting rib on the free end of said skirt cooperable with the projection on said container wall to secure said cap to said container, and means on the interior of said skirt cooperable with said radially projecting lugs on the wall of the container to limit rotative movement of said cap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,194,455 7/1965 Costelli 222545 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION A CONTAINER HAVING AN ANNULAR NECK FORMING WALL DEFINING A MOUTH, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY PORJECTING LUNGS ON SAID WALL, AN ANNULAR RADIAL PROJECTION ON SAID WALL BELOW SAID LUGS FOR SECURING A CLOSURE CAP TO SAID CONTAINER, AND A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL SPLINES ON THE INTERIOR OF SAID WALL; A SIFTY-TYPE FITMENT COMPRISING A RELATIVELY FLAT DISK PROVIDED WITH A MULTIPLICITY OF PERFORATIONS THERETHROUGH, A DEPENDING ATTACHING SKIRT NEAR THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DISK, AND SKIRT HAVING A PLURALITY OF RIGHT ANGULAR SHAPED PROJECTIONS BEING PARALLEL TO THE ONE WALL OF EACH OF SAID PROJECTIONS BEING PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID CLOSURE AND FORMING A RIGHT ANGLE WITH THE FREE END OF SAID SKIRT AND A NOTCH IN SAID SKIRT AS THE JUNCTURE OF EACH OF SAID RIGHT ANGULAR WALLS AND SAID SKIRT AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID SPLINES, THEREBY PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID FITMENT; AND A CLOSURE CAP ADAPTED 